​growing ideas, producing results

Agricultural Economics originally applied the principles of
economics to the production of crops and livestock. It was a branch of
economics that specifically dealt with land usage and maximizing the crop profit while maintaining a sustainable balance between productivity and the environment. However, throughout the 20th century
the discipline has expanded with the times and the current scope has become
much broader.​​

Agricultural economics now includes a variety of applied
areas – often being referred to as ‘applied economics’ – and research and education are conducted on a wide array of issues from development, trade, macroeconomic
policy implications, production, and consumption to environmental and resource
issues.

Since 1920, the Department of Agricultural Economics at
Purdue University has been working to acquire and transmit new economic
knowledge to the citizens of Indiana, the nation, and the world. Starting as
the Department of Farm Management, in the early 1940s we chose a name more
descriptive of our evolving mission – the Department of Agricultural Economics.
In 1965, the Krannert Building was built and Agricultural Economics moved in. Over
the past 50 years, technology and research have advanced and evolved while
carrying on a strong tradition of excellent teaching, research and outreach.​